The Washington, PA branch of the NAACP has named Kathy Cameron as the 2025 recipient of its prestigious Human Rights Award. The honor will be presented at the organization’s 65th annual awards banquet, set for 6 p.m. on Friday, May 2, at the DoubleTree by Hilton at the Meadow Lands.
A longtime advocate for LGBTQ+ rights in Washington County, Cameron has spent decades championing inclusivity and safe spaces for queer youth and adults. She played a foundational role in launching the Washington County Gay Straight Alliance (WCGSA) in 2005 and later helped guide the group into nonprofit status in 2012, expanding its reach to serve LGBTQ+ individuals of all ages in the region.
“My passion lies in providing a safe, confidential environment for LGBTQA+ youth, adults, and their allies,” Cameron told the Observer-Reporter, reflecting on her commitment to advocacy and community care. Her professional background in the paralegal field has also informed her structured, justice-centered approach to activism.
Cameron dedicated five years to the Board of Directors of GLSEN Pittsburgh, an organization that worked to make K-12 schools safer and more affirming for LGBTQ+ students.
In 2017, Cameron, along with her husband, established The Center on Strawberry, a community hub located in downtown Washington, PA. The center serves as a home for WCGSA programming, offering a welcoming space for connection, education, and empowerment.
Her leadership has also extended to the state level. Cameron completed three terms on the Pennsylvania Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, serving under Governors Wolf and Shapiro. Locally, she contributes her voice to multiple community initiatives, including the Washington County Human Services Advisory Committee, the Drug & Alcohol Opioid Overdose Coalition, and the Washington County Community Foundation Allocations Committee.
The evening’s keynote speaker will be Joanna McClinton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. McClinton’s trailblazing political career includes multiple historic firsts: she was the first Black woman to chair the House Democratic Caucus in 2018, the first woman elected House Democratic Leader in 2020, and the first woman to be named Speaker in 2023.
